A return to form for experienced international Mignon du Preez was Hobart Hurricanes' sole consolation from a washed-out draw with Adelaide Strikers in Launceston on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The unofficial home of a diminutive hard-running number three was graced by another as du Preez channelled her inner-Ricky to top score for his home-state team before rain became the only winner at Mowbray's Invermay Park.
"I didn't know that but that's awesome," said the 32-year-old South African when learning of the venue's claim to have launched Ponting's career.
"I can't even come close to stepping in his footsteps but it is quite cool to know that he's scored some runs here."
Given the forecast weather for the day, it was a major achievement that any play was achieved, let alone the 16 overs it took the Hurricanes to reach 5-107.
On a day when bowlers were making extensive use of hand towels and sand piles and the cameramen atop the showgrounds end gantry were seriously reconsidering their career choices, a hardy gathering of Launceston cricket fans savoured just over an hour of entertainment - mostly beneath umbrellas.
After the power of opening pair Ruth Johnston (2) and the competition's leading run-scorer Rachel Priest (13) was replaced by the pace of numbers three and four, courtesy of Darcie Brown (2-21), du Preez and Nicola Carey set about rebuilding the innings from 2-27.
Equalling her tally from the last two matches with one cut shot, du Preez finally began to show the form which earned her 251 South African international caps and a Hurricanes contract.
The first of her and the team's three sixes cleared a fielder standing on the deep square leg boundary while the top-edged third looked to have gone high enough to reach the neighbouring North Esk.
Amanda-Jade Wellington single-handedly stalled the momentum with two wickets in four balls, enticing Carey (19) into a top-edged sweep to keeper Tegan McPharlin before trapping Richa Ghosh lbw.
With the assistance of Naomi Stalenberg (21 not out), du Preez kept her foot down but was caught by Jemma Barsby off Sarah Coyte chasing a fourth six on 39 off 35 just one ball before the rain - and curtain - came down on the Hurricanes' innings.
Greater Northern Raiders captain Sasha Moloney had the honour of taking the field in her home town but was back in the equally-welcome haven of the team marquee without facing a ball.
Assorted announcements signalled the end of the innings and eventually the match but, realistically, when Ravenswood disappeared from view so did any chance of a result.
However, Du Preez found plenty of positives from a frustrating morning.
"It's not ideal circumstances but obviously the weather's one of those things you can't control and sometimes happens. It's part of the game," she said.
"We had to make the most of it. We started off with a slow power-play but then I think we caught up and had some runs on the board and I think if we had played the last few overs we would have got close to that 140-150 mark which I think would have been a very competitive total on a slightly slower wicket."
After scores of 5, 1 and 1 in her first three Hurricanes appearances, the right-hander from Pretoria was delighted to show what she can do.
"Relieved is probably the right word because I feel I've had a bit of (bad) luck in the first few games. I think I've been hitting the ball really well and feel I'm in good form but I haven't managed to get some runs under my belt. So to get that out of the way and get a few will give me a little bit of confidence going into the next games and we've got quite a few coming up, four back to back so it's going to be an exciting time.
"Launceston has been amazing. We've only been here two days but the drive down was beautiful and hopefully we get to explore a little bit more."
Invermay Park's second fixture between Melbourne Stars and Brisbane Heat was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
With a win and two losses before the draw, the Hurricanes' next match is against Brisbane Heat at 4.50pm on Tuesday at UTAS Stadium.